Effective Web Presence Solutions for Small Businesses: Strategies for Successful Implementation

by Stephen Burgess, Carmine Sellitto, Stan Karanasios

Overview

Over the past several years, a great deal of research has been devoted to the use of information technology by small businesses. One technological tool now used to boost company success is Web presence enhancement in alignment with business strategy. Effective Web Presence Solutions for Small Businesses: Strategies for Successful Implementation is the first book to provide small businesses with a holistic approach to implementing their Web presence through identification of Web site content that matches their business strategy. A valuable read for small business owners as well as academicians and researchers, this book connects the various issues involved in the planning and execution of successful Web sites for small businesses.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781605662244
Publisher:	IGI Global
Publication date:	02/28/2009
Series:	Advanced Topics in Global Information Management (Hardcover)
Pages:	354
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.20(h) x 1.10(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Preface xiii

Section I Setting the Scene

Chapter I Introduction 1

Preamble 1

This Book 2

Small Business Web Presence 3

Other Tools for Small Business 9

Our Previous Studies 18

Other International Studies 23

Conclusion 23

References 23

Chapter II Web Presence Lessons for Small Businesses 27

Introduction 27

At the Start: Web Presence Readiness 28

Business Strategy and Planning 31

Web Presence Strategy and Content 34

Web Presence Hosting 36

Website Design 39

Web Presence Promotion 42

Web Presence Governance 44

Evaluating Web Presence Success 47

Conclusion 49

References 49

Section II Readiness, Business Aims and Planning

Chapter III Readiness for a Web Presence 52

Introduction 52

Small Business Web Presence 53

Identifying Factors for Readiness 56

Organisational Readiness 60

Our Previous Studies 68

Tenets - Lessons from the Chapter 74

Conclusion 74

References 76

Chapter IV Business Strategy and Planning 78

Introduction 78

Competitive Forces 79

Business Strategy 81

ICT Investment Appraisal 87

Determining Business Strategy 89

Knowing How the Business is Placed 91

Our Previous Studies 98

Tenets - Lessons from the Chapter 107

Conclusion 107

References 109

Section III Web Presence Implementation and Evaluation

Chapter V Web Presence Strategy and Content 113

Introduction 113

Web Presence Strategy 114

Determining Website Content 116

Maintaining Web Presence Content 120

Our Previous Studies 122

Tenets - Lessons from the Chapter 132

Conclusion 132

References 132

Appendix: More on Website Features 134

Chapter VI Web Presence Hosting 141

Introduction 141

Web PresenceOptions 142

Hosting, Building, and Maintaining a Website 145

The 'Extended' Web 152

Our Previous Studies 156

Tenets - Lessons from the Chapter 160

Conclusion 161

References 161

Appendix: Different Types of Internet Connections 164

Chapter VII Website Design 168

Introduction 168

Background 169

Other Studies 185

Tenets - Lessons from the Chapter 188

Conclusion 188

References 190

Appendix A Features of XHTML 194

Appendix B Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 194

Appendix C Dublin Core Metadata Elements 195

Chapter VIII Web Presence Promotion 197

Introduction 197

Approaches to Web Presence Promotion 198

A Case in Hand: The E-Newsletter 208

Summary thus Far 213

Our Previous Studies 214

Tenets - Lessons from the Chapter 221

Conclusion 221

References 221

Chapter IX Web Presence Governance 223

Introduction 223

Corporate Governance 224

Cultural Diversity and Web Presence 226

Business Continuity Management 229

Security and Control 234

Balancing the Risks 242

Privacy 243

Our Previous Studies 245

Tenets - Lessons from the Chapter 249

Conclusion 249

References 251

Chapter X Evaluating Web Presence Success 253

Introduction 253

Think about Web Presence Success Early 254

ICT Evaluation 254

Measuring Web Presence Success 263

Our Previous Studies 266

Tenets - Lessons from the Chapter 271

Conclusion 271

References 272

Section IV Epilogue

Chapter XI A Look at the Future 275

Introduction 275

Web 2.0 277

Virtual Worlds 281

Web Services 283

Mobile Devices and the Web 286

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) 289

The Semantic Web 291

Small Business Collaboration and Web Presence 293

People Issues When Considering Emerging Web Presence in Future 294

Tenets - Future Lessons from the Chapter 296

Conclusion 296

References 298

Appendix What Led us Here? 302

Introduction 302

Our PHDs 302

Conclusion 320

References 320

About the Authors 322

Index 324